Jury finds gay Asheville couple guilty of trespassing

9:56 PM,
Feb. 23, 2012

Written by

Clarke Morrison

Kathryn Cartledge and Elizabeth Eve hoped their act of civil disobedience would be seen as justified because of North Carolina's law prohibiting same-sex marriage.

They testified Thursday in Buncombe County Superior Court about their more than 30 years together and how they sat on the floor of the Register of Deeds Office reciting the nearly 1,200 legal benefits they are denied but heterosexual couples enjoy.

A jury deliberated for nearly three hours but found both guilty of second-degree trespassing. ...